Costa Mesa's homeless crackdown draws scrutiny

A man known as Jonnie "D" sorts through his stuff he stores at The Crossing church, where a consortium of churches has set up a storage facility for Costa Mesa Homeless people. Men and women can access their belongings there after hearing Costa Mesa police and city officials are starting to confiscate homeless people's belongings. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The city's Homeless Task Force recommended a mix of law enforcement and assistance to manage the city's homeless population. Since February, Costa Mesa officials have been rolling out new laws and other measures:

•Banned sex offenders from city parks

•Required bikes to be locked in racks or risk impounding

•Prohibited smoking in city parks

•Demolished the picnic shelter in Lions Park

•Created a "Homeless Law Enforcement Team" that made 74 arrests and 112 citations in the first half of 2012

•Partnered with local churches to create a storage center for homeless people's belongings

•Hired a social worker to refer people to homeless, mental health and other services

• Partnered with local churches to reunite homeless people with families outside of the area

•On Nov. 20, the City Council will consider allowing officers to confiscate unattended property left in public.

COSTA MESA – First they tore down the shades over picnic tables, once a favorite gathering spot for the homeless. Now, city officials are impounding bicycles found outside of bike racks.

And later this month, they expect to pass a law that would allow police to confiscate backpacks and other belongings left unattended on public property.

As the city grapples with its homeless people, city leaders are rolling out laws intended to make Costa Mesa less comfortable for them, especially people from outside the city limits. They are trying to satisfy residents who complain that the homeless overrun public spaces and make it uncomfortable to bring a family to parks or libraries.

But some say the strict enforcement has created a hostile atmosphere and only deals with surface issues. Mayor Eric Bever recently called for administrators to investigate two of the city's most prominent nonprofits because they attract homeless from other cities, he says, and drag down nearby businesses.

"You can't just say homeless are a problem and move them to another city," said Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, D-Santa Ana, who spoke Thursday at one of Bever's targets, the nonprofit SOS. She was there to mark the organization's new designation as a federal health center.

Instead, officials should address the "root causes" of homelessness like mental illness, Sanchez said, and the lack of housing, especially for families.

City attorneys are tinkering with the new unattended belongings ordinance, city Assistant CEO Rick Francis said, to avoid lawsuits. He expects the council to review the law on Nov. 20.

The city plans to build a locker near the main library, where it will keep confiscated belongings for 90 days. Owners will have to retrieve their property before then or it will be destroyed.

"It's really to reduce visual blight," said Francis, who added that police are "not going to be heavy-handed."

On Tuesday, backpacks and grocery carts were stacked against a wall between the Costa Mesa Historical Society and a fire station. Some were covered with blue tarps, others covered with plastic grocery bags.

To help homeless people off the streets, the city's Homeless Task Force recommended a mix of enforcement measures and assistance – what it called a "carrot and stick" approach. The city hired a social worker to help refer people to services, and partnered with churches to develop a property storage facility.

Homeless individuals can keep their stuff at the church's storage center for as long as they need to, and can access it each day, while the city's would essentially be an impound locker.

But amenities like the church's locker don't balance out the new strict law enforcement, some people on the street say.

"It's really not fair what they're doing to us," said Charles Brown, a homeless man in his early 60s who spent Thursday at Lions Park. "I've lived in Costa Mesa all my life and I won't let them kick me out."

Brown, who had suitcases, duffels and other items covered with black plastic bags, says he doesn't trust the church with his property. He's a full-time security guard, and wore a green uniform jacket.

"People used to be friendly," said Jim Palmiter, 55, who was homeless in Costa Mesa in the early 1990s before returning in June.

Police officers told him to "just leave" the city after recently issuing him a citation for camping. They told him to move on to Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach or another nearby city.

Related Links

A man known as Jonnie "D" sorts through his stuff he stores at The Crossing church, where a consortium of churches has set up a storage facility for Costa Mesa Homeless people. Men and women can access their belongings there after hearing Costa Mesa police and city officials are starting to confiscate homeless people's belongings. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jonnie "D" arrives at the parking structure where The Crossing church and a consortium of churches have set up a storage facility for Costa Mesa homeless people. Men and women can access their belongings there after hearing Costa Mesa police and city officials are starting to confiscate homeless people's belongings. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A consortium of churches has set up a storage facility for Costa Mesa homeless people in a parking structure. Men and women can access their belongings there. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
John Carberry, 41, is homeless and stores his stuff at The Crossing church. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jean Paisner of Costa Mesa offers John Carberry, 41, a little something to eat at The Crossing church. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Becks Heyhoe, director of the Churches Consortium, visits with Rose Ouellette, 44, as she goes through her stuff she has stored at The Crossing church. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
As he relaxes, John Carberry, 41, talks with the volunteers working at The Crossing church. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
John Carberry, 41, relaxes with the Becks Heyhoe, center, director of the Churches Consortium, and volunteer Jean Paisner at The Crossing church, where a consortium of churches has set up a storage facility for Costa Mesa homeless people. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
At 7:30 a.m., Becks Heyhoe of Costa Mesa and director of the Churches Consortium, locks up the locker where each homeless person is offered a bin and a bag to store personal items during the day. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
After collecting things she needs for the day, Rose Ouellette, 44, readies her bicycle at The Crossing church, where a consortium of churches has set up a storage facility for Costa Mesa homeless people. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Bicycles are parked in racks as mandated by the city near the Costa Mesa Library Donald Dungan Branch. Though this rack is made to accommodate eight bikes, only three or four riders can use the rack because of where it is placed, according to the homeless in the area. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Personal belongings are lined up against a fence near the Costa Mesa Library Donald Dungan Branch. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A new bicycle ordinance sign is posted near the Costa Mesa Library Donald Dungan Branch. Costa Mesa police and city officials are starting to confiscate homeless people's belongings. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A couple who chose to remain nameless gather their things after storing them at The Crossing church, where a consortium of churches has set up a storage facility for Costa Mesa homeless people. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.